The Washington Post reports ICE raids are soon to happen, tips for driving safely in the rain, the science behind how Santa is like a superhero.
2016 could see mass deportations of migrants illegally in the U.S.
The Washington Post reported the Obama administration plans to deport hundreds of families found to have entered the U.S. illegally - some as soon as the New Year.
Washington Post reporter Jerry Markon tells Take Two's A. Martinez that the Obama administration is looking to address the surge of families coming to the U.S. in recent years, many fleeing due to violence in Central America.
3 tips for driving in the rain — from a stunt driver
Angelenos aren’t known for our ability to drive in the rain, but there are a few things we can do to keep ourselves safe.
“Everybody thinks they’re a great driver,” stunt driver Greg Tracy said. “With the years of teaching racing schools and car clinics and just being on the road, maybe it’s actually 1 in 100 that are okay.”
Tracy recommends being extra cautious during the first 10 minutes of rain, when the oils make the roads extra slick.
Then once the the oils wash off, drivers have to worry about hydroplaning. It only takes 1/12-inch of water on the road for a car's tires to lose contact with the road, he said.
Below are few other tips he offers as drivers face their rainy commute:
- Slow down. Not only should you bring down your speed, but you should also take a look at everything else you’re doing. Avoid slamming on the brakes or hitting the accelerator extra hard.
- Look farther ahead. A lot of people have the tendency to just look at the car ahead of them. To avoid those accidents, look 20 to 30 seconds ahead.
- Don’t look at your phone. That one is self-explanatory.
This story was updated.
Is Santa Claus faster than the Flash? We asked a physicist
Does Santa Claus have more in common with superheroes than we think?
Michael Dennin, physics and astronomy professor from the University of California, Irvine says in the world of superheroes, Santa could be in a league of his own.
Dennin teaches a class called "The Science of Superheroes," and uses the analysis of comparing Santa's "powers" to the likes of the Flash, Hulk and Antman as a method to teach the theory of relativity and the conservation of mass.
The comic book fan tells Take Two's host A Martinez that students are initially excited about the class but often forget the work involved in solving the mysteries of St. Nick — conundrums like calculating how the portly santa can squeeze into a tiny chimney.
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.
Wheel Thing: How driverless cars could change ride sharing
Driverless cars could change how ride sharing companies operate and how we navigate modern cities. But while they might sound like a far off thing, the future of transportation might come to fruition as early as 2016.
is the motor critic for the OC Register and a regular Take Two guest. She joins us every week for our automotive segment called Wheel Thing.
The winners and losers of LA's 2015 housing market
"The rent is too DAMN high!"
New York City mayoral candidate Jimmy McMillan uttered that phrase in 2010 about his own city – and became a meme in the process.
But as is the trend Lately, L.A. outdoes NYC in a lot of things. Unfortunately, housing unaffordability is one of them.
2015 could be a mixed-bag for people living in Southern California, says KPCC reporter Josie Huang.
"If you're a low- to middle-income renter, it's been really tough out there for you and things are only looking to get tougher," she says. "If you're someone looking to sell your home, then things were looking pretty good for you because the real estate market is still looking pretty hardy."
Here are some of the most important milestones that affected the cost of housing over the past year:
• L.A. was the worst. This year began with L.A. being the worst major city for housing affordability. While people in cities like New York and San Francisco pay higher rents and mortgages on average, they also take home higher wages. But in Los Angeles, the average renter spends 47 percent of their paycheck because wages are relatively low. That's the highest burden in the country.
• Listeners shared their housing troubles. Listeners told KPCC how much high housing costs are affecting other parts of their lives.
"I don't go out. The light bill gets overdue," said Watts resident Danetta Brooks to our Public Insight Network. "Sometimes I think that I would have to sell some food stamps just to get the rent together, but so far that hasn't happened."
• There aren't enough homes. Many experts said the housing problem is caused by many issues, including supply and demand.
"There are more people who want to live in L.A. than there are houses for people in L.A.," said USC's Richard Greene to Take Two.
• L.A. is trying to encourage more building. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti made a pledge in 2014: the city would build 100,000 homes by 2021. Last September, he said Los Angeles is on track. Meanwhile the city approved $7 billion in new construction in the Last year alone, which is apparently the highest amount since the 1980s. But we reported that most construction is concentrated in downtown as luxury high-rises, leading some to wonder whether those will truly ease housing costs in the city.
• Rent increased. Fast. Rent was projected to climb more than 8 percent from 2014 to mid-2016. We've already blown past that: apartment rental site Zumper found rents jumped by 11.6 percent in the Last year alone.
• Renters want to band together. Renters are trying to create a citywide tenants union.
“There’s a kind of culture in our society that says renters are somehow less than," said organizer Dont Rhine. "Actually, we make up the majority of the people in this city. We pay for this city. Right? We are this city.”
• Home sellers are sitting pretty. If you're selling a house, things are great for you. Home prices are rising fast, with Echo Park being the neighborhood with the strongest market. It had some experts worried about a housing bubble. They were in the minority, however.
"L.A.’s housing market, despite becoming more expensive and unaffordable, is not in a bubble," said a recent UCLA report.
• Lawmakers focused on wages. City and county lawmakers haven't addressed this increased housing costs directly. Instead, most of the energy went into a minimum wage hike to $15 for L.A. city and county.
"This could allow more people to live their American dream here in L.A.," said Mayor Garcetti. "That means they’ll have money left over after paying their rent." Garcetti signed the city's measure into law last June, while the L.A. County leaders voted in July to raise the wage for unincorporated areas.
• Airbnb became a target. Some people put Airbnb and other home-sharing in their crosshairs, saying they've led to an increase in home prices and evictions. L.A. City Councilman Mike Bonin told KPCC about scenarios he is worried might play out if they weren't regulated.
"Someone buying an entire building, evicting everybody, then turning it into a defacto hotel, which is significantly impacting our inventory of affordable housing," he said. "We can’t allow it to get any worse."
Airbnb says it does not advocate or support people who do that. However, that hasn't stopped communities like Santa Monica from enacting one of the toughest laws in the country on home-sharing sites. Los Angeles, however, has yet to agree on its own measure.
• Homelessness is now at the top of the agenda. Local leaders are now tackling the issue of homelessness. The number of people living on the streets jumped 12 percent from 2013 to 2015. To that end, L.A. city lawmakers pledged to spend $100 million in the next year and vowed to declare a homeless state of emergency. However, they have yet to detail how to spend that money and have not declared that state of emergency.
The year in CA politics: From climate change to San Bernardino
On this week's State of Affairs, a look back at the year's top stories in California politics— from Jerry Brown's fight against climate change to the political fallout of the San Bernardino mass shooting.
Joining Take Two to discuss:
- Carla Marinucci, POLITICO's California Playbook reporter
- Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, USC Professor of the Practice of Public Policy Communication
Not home for the holidays: Porter Ranch residents to see swifter placement amid leak
Thousands of residents in Porter Ranch won't be home for the holidays.
Locals have been moved into temporary digs, thanks to the continuing stench coming from the Aliso Canyon gas storage field. But some people affected by the smells say Southern California Gas Company was a little slow getting them out of the area. It's just one more aspect of this environmental disaster that is landing SoCal Gas in court.
The city of Los Angeles and the gas company met on Wednesday before a judge and came to an agreement over the housing.
KPCC's infrastructure reporter Sharon McNary joined host A Martinez with an update.
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.
Point Break’s Edgar Ramirez on playing a 'bad guy'
In 1991, Patrick Swayze delighted audiences with his turn in the film Point Break. He played Bodhi — a charismatic leader of a gang of criminal surfers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X84VFjk3N40
A remake of the film is now in theaters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYIALBtQJlE
Actor Edgar Ramirez plays ringleader Bodhi this time around. Ramirez is known for his roles in The Bourne Ultimatum, Vantage Point and Wrath of the Titans.
Ramirez recently told Take Two’s Alex Cohen that he was more than fine with playing the “bad guy” in the new film.
“Being a bad guy is a matter of perspective, Alex,” Ramirez said. “Especially in this film.”
Reflecting on the social climate and his at the time when the film was originally released, Ramirez says Patrick Swayze's Bodhi was very identifiable.
“I was very attracted [to] the rebellious spirit of Bodhi from the first film. I mean, you have to remember I was 13 when I watched it … It’s right at that stage in your life when you start to question your parents, institutions, school, authority … But little [did I know that] eventually I would be [asked] to play this character. I have always been a huge fan of the original and a huge fan of what Patrick Swayze did because — in the end — what this character is waging is a battle against the system.”
Press the blue play button above to hear the interview.
Sandra Boynton on her love for chocolate, and how the industry has evolved
Boxes of fudge. Little treats buried in an advent calendar. A steaming cup of cocoa with marshmallows enjoyed after a trip to the local skating rink.
No matter how you enjoy it, there's a way to appreciate chocolate in all its many manifestations, thanks to a book titled "CHOCOLATE: The Consuming Passion."
It's a handbook for the truly obsessed that was "written, illustrated and over-researched" by Sandra Boynton. She joined host Alex Cohen from the studios of WAMC in Albany, New York, to tell more.
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.